Soccer Shorts

Agencies

Thu, Sep 26, 2013 - Page 18

FRANCE

PSG hold on to Ibrahimovic

Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has extended his contract, tying him to the club until 2016. The Swede, whose existing deal was due to expire in the summer of 2015, is now set to stay at the Parc des Princes until close to his 35th birthday. “I don’t see a more ambitious club in Europe than Paris Saint-Germain,” the former Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and AC Milan striker said in a statement released by PSG. “My wish is that Paris Saint-Germain is my last big club.” PSG won the Ligue 1 title last season, during which Ibrahimovic scored 30 goals and was named player of the year.

ITALY

Udinese edge Genoa 1-0

Udinese on Tuesday scraped a narrow 1-0 win at home to Genoa in Serie A and needed the help of an own-goal to do so. The home side dominated possession and had the better of the chances, but struggled to test Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin. The deadlock was broken 11 minutes from time when Emanuele Calaio headed Antonio di Natale’s free-kick into his own net. Di Natale thought he had scored in the first half, but the Udinese captain’s effort was ruled offside. Udinese extended their unbeaten home run in the league to 21 games. Both teams had been level on four points, but Tuesday’s win moved the Bianconeri provisionally into the top half of the table ahead of the midweek fixtures.

ENGLAND

Walcott to undergo surgery

Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott was to undergo “minor” surgery on his abdomen yesterday that will keep him out of action until after next month’s World Cup qualifiers, the Premier League leaders announced on Tuesday. Walcott’s injury means he will be sidelined from the Wembley Stadium fixtures against Montenegro and Poland on Oct. 11 and Oct. 15 respectively, with England still to book their place at next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil. The winger missed Sunday’s win over Stoke City after developing slight damage to his posterior abdominal wall. “Theo will be out for a few weeks,” manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s Web site. “He will have the procedure in Germany on Wednesday and, because it’s so minor, we can begin his rehab immediately.” Walcott will miss yesterday’s League Cup tie with West Bromwich Albion, Saturday’s league match at Swansea City and the Champions League home game against SSC Napoli on Tuesday next week. He joins an Arsenal injury list that already includes Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Santi Cazorla, leaving Wenger with few other options in wide positions.

SCOTLAND

Celtic shamed out of Cup

Celtic suffered an embarrassing Scottish League Cup third-round exit, losing 1-0 at home to second-tier Greenock Morton after extra-time on Tuesday. Dougie Imrie scored a penalty for the Scottish Championship strugglers in the 97th minute after Efe Ambrose was penalized for handball. Celtic manager Neil Lennon made five changes for the tie and, while it was one-way traffic for the Scottish champions and Champions League participants, they could not find a way through. The Scottish League Cup is the only domestic trophy that Lennon has yet to win. Morton have won just one of their six second-division games this season and are second-to-last in the tables.